Circuit-coupling.



11A. DOUGLAS CFRCUT COUPLING APPLlCATION FILED MAR-1I, 1916.

Patented@ 11611111918.

HARRY DOUGLAS, 0F BBONSON, MICHIGAN,

MICHIGAN, A CQRPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

OF BBONSON,

ASSIGNOBTO DOUGLAS RUDD MFG. CG.,

CIRCUIT-COUPLING.

Application filed March 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. DoUGLAs, citizen of the United States, residing at Bronsonz in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuit-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference beg had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

n My invention relates to contact carriers or connectors and has for one of its objects the provision of means whereby tubular metallic shell portions thereof may be formed of sheet metal rather than of tubing. The invention has for another of its objects an improved union between a coupler or connector and the lug or member which is desirably provided therefor.

l will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows one form of couc pler in longitudinal section and circuit porare respectively receivable tions in association therewith that are to be electrically connected thereby, the circuit portion at the left being shown in elevation, partially in section and being a connecting plug while the circuit portion at the right is in the form of an incandescent lamp shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a View in elevation of the circuit coupler shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view on Vline 3 l illustrates a blank formed out of flat sheet metal and which is afterward curled into cylindrical shape to produce the couplers shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures. l

The circuit coupler or Contact carrier illustrated includes a, cylindrical metallic in which there is tightly inserted a contact carrying plug 2 of insulating material and which carries spring pressed contacts 3 and 4 designed respectivel:7 for engagement with contacts 5 and 6 carried respectively by the plug 7 and lamp base 8, the elements 7 and 8 having additional terminals 9 and 10 which are in the form of metallic shells that are electrically connected by the metallic shell 1 when the elements 7 and 8 are received 1n the ends shell or tube 1 thereof. The contact carriers 7 and 8 are provided with bayonet pins l1 and 12 which within bayonet plus 3 of Fig. l; and Fig.

Patented Feb. i9, 1918..

191e. serial No. 84,759.

slots 13 and 14. formed in the shell l, this shell being thus adapted mechanically to couple the carriers 7 and 8 to include their contacts 5 and 6 in circuit by way Aof the electrically connected contacts 3 and 4 and their contacts 9 and 10 in circuit by way of of the metallic shell 1 itself. The shell l has a slot or opening 15 formed therethrough through which one arm of an angular coupler or connector lug or member 16 may be projected, the other arm being overlapped by the shell and surrounded by the shell and held in engagement with the shell 1 upon the interior thereof, whereby unsightly protruding attaching means for the lug located upon the exterior of the shell may be dispensed with.

ln the preferred embodiment of the in vention the lug securing means resides in the 2 itself, there being a recess formed in one or the other of the members l, 2 for receiving the arm of the lug that is located within the shell. ln the embodiment of the invention shown this recess is formed in the plug 2 by providing a channel 17 longitudinally through the plug at its periphery, this channel being of a size snugly to receive the inner arm of the lug.

The remaining feature of my invention resides in the formation of the cylindrical shell or tube 1 itself preferably in conjunction with the plug 2 received within. the shell. Initially, a stamping is formed, as illustrated in Fig. 4, which is afterward curled to form a cylinder or tube, the dovetailed tenons 18, 19

correspondingly shaped dovetailed mortises 20 and 2l respectively included in the same zone with said tenons and within the circle or contour of the shell, the formations 18, 19 and 20, 21 constituting interlocking elements at the abutting meeting edges of the seam. rl`he edges of the curled sheet of metal thus meet or abut instead of overlapping whereby no thickened or projecting seam results. The plug is driven under reasonable pressure into the cylinder 1 whereby the tenons are tightly pressed against the mortised portions at the dovetailed faces thereof, whereby tendency to destroy the circle or contour of the tube is guarded against. When the circle of the cylinder has been rmly established by the plug, any enlargement of the circle is obtailed formation of the mortises and tenons. he plug acts also to guard against the co1- lapsing of the tube 1 since nelther of the portions marginin edges of the curle pressed at the lug.

While the circuit one which is adapted to tions applied to both ends 0 wish to be limited to such a characterlstic, as I broadly claim a contact carrier whether it is employed at an intermediate portion of a circuit or not. Y

While I have herein shown and particularly describedthe preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the s irit of my invention, but having thus descri as new and desire to ent the following 1. A contact shell having an opening through its tubular wall; an angular lug having one arm passing through said opening; and means within the shell for holding the other arm and shell in assembly, this arm being between the shell and this means.

2. A contact carrier including a tubular shell having an opening through its tubular wall; an angular lug having one arm passing through said opening; and a plug with- .in the shell engaging the other arm and holding it in assembly with the shell, this arm belng between the shell and plug.

contact carrier including a tubular shell having an opening through its tubular wall; an angular lug having one arm passing through said opening and the other arm within the shell; and a plug within the shell engaging the latter arm and holding it in assembl with the shell, this plug having a qlongitu inal groove vin which the latter arm is received.

'4. A contact carrier including a tubular sheet can be inwardly coupler illustrated is have circult porsecure by Letters Patshell having an opening through its tubular Wall; an angular lug having one arm passing through said opening; carrying plug within the shell engaging thel other arm and holding it in assembly with the shell, this arm bemg between the shell and plug.. v

the abutting meetingV thereof, I do not ed my invention I claim carrier including a tubular.

vlapped by the shell,

and a contact 5. A contact shell having an the atter arm is received. I 6. A contact carrier includinlg a cylindric al shell formed of sheet metal aving abuttmg meeting edges which are provided with interlocking formations, and a contact carrying plug within and tightly engaging the Ashell 1n the region of said interlocking formations and serving to frictionally lock Jsaid formations together whereby the plug maintains the shell in its cylindrical shape.

contact carrier including a tubular shell having an opening through its tubular wall; a lug having a portion passing through said opening; and a plug within the shell engaging another portion of the lug and holding it in assembly with the shell, this other portion of the lug lying between shell and plug.

8. A contact carrier including a tubular shell having an opening through its tubular wall, a plug withm the shell, and a connector member disposed in said opening and having a portion thereof located between the plug and shell.

9. A contact carrier including a tubular shell having an opening through its tubular wall, a plug within the shell, and a connector member disposed in said opening and having a portion thereof located between the plug and a portion of the shell overlying the plug.

10. A contact carrier including a tubular shell having an opening through its tubular wall, a connector member disposed in said opening and having a portion thereof overand means for holding te 11connector member in assembly with the s e In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe ny name this tenth day of March A. D., 1 16.

l HARRYA. DOUGLAS. Witnesses:

G. L. CRAGG, Erm L. WHITE.

'the 

